Chelsea Ends Liverpool’s Top Four Ambition

Liverpool hope of playing next season’s UEFA Champions League ended on Sunday following its 1-1 game against Chelsea at the Stamford Bridge.

The Reds needed a win to stand a chance of upstaging Manchester United but the 1-1 game effectively put paid to any chance due to Manchester United’s vastly superior goals difference.

Manchester United with 68 points to Liverpool’s 62 has goal difference of 25 to Liverpool’s 11. With two matches to go, it is not possible for Liverpool to win these matches with such a high number of goals.

John Terry headed Chelsea into a fifth-minute lead and Steven Gerrard levelled before he was warmly applauded from the pitch by all sides of the ground.

It was a nice touch from the home fans, who have taunted him mercilessly for a year about the slip which cost his team the title when they met last year at Anfield.

Chelsea coasted home to extend its unbeaten run to 18 games but a point leaves Liverpool trailing six behind Manchester United with two to play and a far inferior goal difference.

The Reds is destined to be back in the unloved Europa League after a campaign which has reinforced the theory that it was only the goals of Luis Suarez which lifted Liverpool briefly back into the elite.

Compared to recent fiery clashes between these modern rivals, this was quite tame, although it looked set to be different when, after only 20 seconds, the first flashpoint of the day caught out referee Andre Marriner.

Cesc Fabregas was late as he slid into a midfield tackle on Raheem Sterling, which left the Liverpool winger writhing in agony, clutching his right ankle.

Marriner let play flow, with the visitors in possession but when the ball went dead he sought out John Obi Mikel and showed him the red card.